Developments in Coastal Flood Warning

David Faichney

FIAC Awareness and Assistance Sub-Group

14th September 2004

Today

• Why SEPA is developing coastal flood warning

• Where we are now

• Work so far/challenges

• Coastal flood watch for all Scotland

• Coastal flood warning

• How FIAC can help

Background – why SEPA is developing coastal flood warning

• SEPA is the flood warning authority

• Firth of Clyde system

• January 2005 flood event

• Formal requests for coastal/estuarial schemes

• Support from Scottish Executive for a national coastal FW system

Where are we now?

• SEPA have developed their coastal flood warning strategy

• The strategy has been agreed by SEPA Corporate Management Team and will be launched this autumn

• Scottish Executive are supportive and have funded stage one (coastal flood watch)

• Looking for FIAC advice on how to progress

Work so far

• Coastal flood watch:

• Technical feasibility complete

• Flood watch areas set

• Forecast points established

• Initial thresholds set

• STFS trial alerts are being received by SEPA Communications Centre

Coastal flood watch

All Scotland Broad areas Flooding is possible Not exact! Not Local!

Still to do…

Coastal flood watch (this autumn):

Apply model output to forecast points (Met office) Procedures and training for staff (SEPA) Communication strategy (SEPA) Launch service

Coastal flood warning (future):

Scoping study Identification of key at risk areas Data gathering Model development

Challenges

• Size of job

• Knowledge gaps

• Defining scope

• Integrating with existing requests for new schemes

• Meeting expectations

• Integrating with Floodline

• Communicating Flood Watch

• Impact on SEPA business

Coastal flood watch

• Implementation (Autumn 2006)

• Use STFS Alerts from Met Office

• Based on 9 Coastal zones

• Initial forecast points and thresholds set by hydrology teams

• Issued through Floodline

• Relevant LA’s informed of flood watch

Coastal Flood Watch Areas

Coastal Flood Watch Areas

• Solway Firth (Esk estuary to Mull of Galloway)

• Firth of Clyde (Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the North Channel)

• Firth of Lorn (Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point)

• Inner Hebrides and Minch (Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath including East coast of Western Isles)

• Outer Hebrides (Atlantic coast from Barra Head to Butt of Lewis)

• Cape Wrath to Duncansby Head incl. Orkney Isles

• Shetland Isles

• Moray Firth (Duncansby Head to Peterhead)

• Peterhead to Berwick

SEPA forecast points

  Southerness Isle of Whithorn Portpatrick Millport Port Ellen Oban Corran

Tobermory Mallaig Loch

Harport Ullapool Stornoway Kinlochber

vie Barra Head

Leverburgh Ferry Terminal

Sule Skerry Rapness Foula Bluemull Sound Lerwick Wick

Moray Firth Buckie Aberdeen Dundee Grangemouth

Docks Leith Eyemouth

Coastal flood warning

• Focused flood warning on at risk areas

• Scope and extent unknown

• Scoping study to be commissioned?

• Nothing happening yet

• Will depend on funding and resources

How can FIAC help?

• Awareness of developments

• Communication with their organisations/colleagues

• Guidance on how to progress next phase –coastal flood warning

• Understanding of the knowledge gaps and monitoring gaps that we have

• Recognise our STFS involvement

• Commitment to improving coastal flood warning

• Recognise the resources/effort that this will require

Future

• Where does coastal flood warning fit in?

• Part of a flood warning strategy?

• Developing existing systems for gains.

Discussion

FEWS Scotland